Pam Info

Printer Accounts Manager is a utility that allows you to Collect, Collate, Cost and Calculate accounting information from a variety of printers.

‘Pam’ will process the account record data files that are generated by the various printers. From this data it will select only the information that you require for your records.

It can run in the background collecting and processing accounting data from your printers automatically.

It will calculate media, impression and finishing costs and then convert them and import them into your own application. (e.g.. Excel spreadsheet or Access database)

The ‘Pam’ installation includes the following two fully integrated programs. DataView and TransForm.

Imports and displays the PAM accounting data.
Auto Aligns Text and Number entries.
Produces a sub-totaled list from your data automatically.
Calculates and adds a ‘Total Cost’ field in the displayed data.
Report Designer can create reports that can be printed or saved as an
HTML page.
Create a ‘Word’ Table style Report using an editable ‘Word’ Template.
Finds and Removes Duplicate Records
A ‘Look Up Table’ can be configured so the numbered accounts can be instantly changed into Department Names.
Collected data can be displayed as a Graph in various different formats, which can be exported into your application.
Display and list total paper stocks used in DocuSP type accounting files
Full search and Replace data actions. Either by column or the whole sheet.
Uses Data Masks to display parts of data.
Converts dates to Week Numbers, Months or Quarters
Dataview app can now be copied and renamed so different versions can be run with different setups.

Installation and Upgrade Hints

When installing on a Windows 7 PC, always run the install program as the person who is going to be using the software. The install program will ask for an administrator password to continue. Enter the password and the install should complete as normal. Read the Win 7 Install PDF for full instructions.

Running the installation program will give you options to Install, Repair problem (or deleted) files or Uninstall. The Uninstall Program can be run from the
Windows Control Panel option of Remove Programs in the normal way.

Freeflow/DocuSP Info

The latest versions of the Freeflow/DocuSP rip have some extra features to
make the exporting and purging of accounting information simpler. You can set the ‘Accounting Options’ so that the data is automatically exported to a folder
of your choice when the accounting file is over 80% full. It then ‘Purges’ the
data to reset the accounting log. The exported files can then be grabbed by
Pam for processing.
This makes the collection of data far simpler and quicker.
Remote GUI is software that is compatible with DocuSP 3.6. This allows you to emulate the ‘Sun Screen’ on your PC. And most of the tasks that can be
carried out on the Printer GUI can be carried out on your own PC. On multiple printer installations this can be invaluable. Accounting logs can now be exported and purged without you leaving your seat.
To obtain a copy of this software talk to your friendly analyst.

Saving Accounts Data from Printer

Accounts Data should be saved in any version (use the latest in the version list to give access to all data).
EBCIDIC saved data will be automatically converted.
N.B. Upgrades to the latest version of DocuSP will depend on the specification of your processor, which may need upgrading.

FFPS (Freeflow Print Server. Formerly DocuSP) version 8 (SP2) and newer (current version is 9)

Pam Features

Works with all Xerox Production Printers and can ‘Learn’ any standard printer accounting file.
Collects multiple Accounting files from multiple printers and appends the data into one file.
Saves the collected data into Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly files
Uses user defined output record filters that extract only the required information
Automatic Export of collected data into most applications such as ‘Excel’ or ‘Access’
Archive and Retrieval Functions
Full cost information can be input in three cost bands providing cost calculations for a number of different items. Costing functions include ‘Clicks’, Sheets printed,Single and Double side, Drilled and all types of Finishing costs, and up to 99 media stocks can be individually priced..
Different cost setups can be applied to different Printers
Creates a Complete Stock Used Listing from DocSP and Fiery type printers.
DataView can use this file to produce a unique stock used report.
Password protection for three levels None ,User or Admin logon
PAM can work in the background Automatically scanning and collecting Accounting data.

These are the main changes since version 7 was released.

New Look N Feel to make PAM easier to use
New Version 8.9 – Inbuilt FTP code used to collect
data from printers
Windows 7 compliant
Easy Export to Access or Excel
Override plug-in at printer level.
Example: Run monthly data with individual printers into separate folders
New cost option for Simplex and duplex prints. (xerox rip)
Other/Offline Finishing entries increased from 20 to 40
Support for Fiery 10 files
Support for Fiery 10 Automatic export files.
Support for Fiery Mixed Media Files and stock totals
Faster processing of Fiery Files
Rename output field to change header title
FTP Test connection option.
Custom Printer upgrades for Creo Igen printers.
Pam can now be licensed for a specific number of days.
Monthly Data plug-in enhanced

DataView Features

DataView’ is included with the pam software. It can be used to produce lists, sub-totals, reports and graphs of your data.
You can fully analyse your printer throughput, capacity, peaks and troughs.

Using DataView you will be able to easily find out at what time of day your printer is being used the most. Who is submitting the most print jobs. What finishing options are used. Who is printing Black and White prints on the colour printer.

To Upgrade a previous version

When PAM is un-installed all the configuration data files should be left untouched. But as a precaution it is advisable to backup all the data files
from the installation folder. These can be backed up from within the program or can be manually copied. These are the files with a .bin or a .dat extension

Uninstall

To complete the Uninstall you need to delete the ‘Printer Accounts Manager’ install folder. Please report any problems with the installation or operation of
Pam and DataView, either by E-mail or by using the the Message box on the ‘Contact’ Page.

The newer versions of Freeflow Rip have the option to save the accounts data in a number of different formats.This Table shows the types that are supported by different versions of Pam.

Supported Export Formats

If you are not sure what data type to export then always select Colon as the delimiter and ISO Latin as the data type. Name Value Pairs – Colon is the preferred data type. This works with all versions of PAM and is the most efficient.
If you need to import PAM’s data into another application then you can choose the delimiter type that is exported from PAM.

Some of the data types are very strange!
The accounts data can contain a comma, which makes exporting the data as RLD – Comma delimited very risky. And of course the same applies to spaces,

So PAM will give you an error message if it processes a RLD – Space file.

When Pam is installed it looks for a file called: ‘Mdac_Typ.exe’ (Data Access Component). If it can’t find it then the install will error and not continue. You will have to download and install from the Microsoft site. Click here to download.

Manifest Manager Features

Manifest Manager, compares print request data, with files processed by Xerox Freeflow Core, and printed output from Xerox Printers. It produces a report that shows success or failure of all print requests. It manages the sending of documents to different workflows and for reprinting.

Moves customer print and manifest files to the Freeflow Core server for processing by a Core Workflow.
Large manifest files can be split into smaller files by a flag in the data. E.G. into specific Clinics
Generates a report in ‘Excel’ showing the success or failure of Print job at various stages in the workflow.
Reads the manifest status file that Core produces on entry of CSV file to extract information/fault code if any
Reads information at the end of the Core workflow
Reads accounting information from the printer to confirm successful printing of the PDF
Collects accounting information from Xerox printers which can be filtered and saved into ‘Date Split’ csv files depending on the date printed. The accounts data is also used to show that required documents have been printed.
Multiple workflows can be set up can changed from the main screen
Files saved to a ‘Manual Input’ folder can be printed through Core or direct to the Printer.
Files can be joined and sent to prevent files going out of print order.
Reprints can be ordered of previous sent documents
Manifest Manager can run either in Local or Global mode. In Global mode the data is stored on a server and multiple copies of the program can be installed on different PC’s that have access to the server.
Manifest Manager can also run as a Windows Service
Export option to save PDF files with or without a job Ticket so they can be printed offsite.
Data Search option to find information from all Logs and collected information.

BloodHound

BloodHound will search for and move selected files from one location to another. Found files are processed in FIFO (First In First Out) order. It can be used in conjunction with programs using 'Hot Folders' to process files.

You can configure up to 20 ‘Linked Folders’ and have various different settings for each one. Including archive, attaching files and running scripts.

FileSelect Plus

FileSelect Plus is an older application written in 2005. It will search for and send ‘Print Ready Files’ or ‘Microsoft Word’ Documents to a designated printer with a pre-defined ‘Job Ticket’ or ‘Header’ and/or ‘footer’ file attached.

New copy count and account information can be added to the attached job ticket before printing. Documents can be printed in the various ways as listed below.

Print files can be dropped into a ‘Hot Folder’.
Files can be ‘Dragged and Dropped’ onto the Main FSP Window.
‘Single’ or ‘Multiple’ print files can be selected for processing.
‘Folders’ of print ready documents can be printed.
File structures can be searched for a file using ‘Search and Print’
FileSelect Plus can print stored ‘Reprint’ files from the Printer Controller.CSV files can be read and their contents processed.

More information on these programs can be found in the User Guides which are on the Media page

Pam User Guide

DataView User Guide